Beaker Breed Information

Beaker

Caring for a Beaker

Feeding: As the Beaker is prone to obesity, feeding a good quality food twice a day is very important. With highe quality foods you can feed them less and they still receive all the nutritional value they require which helps keep their weight in check.

Living with a Beaker

Personality: The Beaker is a dog who is loved by everyone who meets it. At first, people are drawn to their striking appearance, but they soon fall for their quiet sweetness. They can be a little aloof and if they don't like you, you will know it. They can be easily intimidated by other dogs.

Temperament: In temperament, the Beaker is more like the Cocker, except for the intensity, which is more like the Beagle. It is important to note that Beakers may end up inheriting the "Spaniel Rage" from the Cocker which is a condition which can come on suddenly anytime after age 3 and which, in most cases, winds up being fatal.

Family Dog: Unlike the purebred Beagle, the Beaker tends to gets along much better with adults than children. They are not recommended as a pet for families with small children. They would make an ideal only dog.

Shedding: The Beaker does not shed much if any.

Grooming: The Beaker requires very little grooming. They should have their coat brushed occasionally but be careful as some don't like it much. Their coat seems to be self-cleaning, shedding dirt, debris and odors keeping it gleaming all the time. They require a bath only twice a year.

Training: The Beaker is a smart dog but can be difficult to train because they are not eager to please their owners. They can be trained using food, but if they have food issues this can get in the way as they do not think it amusing that you are holding food just over their head, for example, and will jump up and snap the food out of your fingers if they can.

Behavior: The Beaker is a fun and loving dog who loves to sleep. They may have the food issues of a Beagle, but not the hound pack mentality which is, more or less, "share and share alike." Like hounds, Beakers craves a routine. It seems like hounds never get used to Daylight Savings Time! If they are normally fed at 5:30 pm, when we "spring ahead" they spend 8 months looking expectantly for their meal at 4:30 pm.

Barking: The Beaker does like to bark, but typically not as much as the purebred Beagle. They may also lose some of their tendency to howl or "sing" like the Beagle. They are not the type of dog who stands at the fence and barks at the neighbors or their dogs.

Weather: The coat of the Beaker is weather-proof like both the Beagle and the Cocker. It does not bother them to go out in the rain or the snow and they do not seem to overly mind the heat.

Exercise: The Beaker requires a similar amount of exercise as the Beagle. Several times a day, they need to just get out and run. They also love long walks and would be in heaven with two or three walks a day.

Physical Ability: The Beaker would be an ideal member of a fly-ball team, if you can get them interested in the tennis ball. They are very fast dogs.

Beaker Appearance

Appearance: The face of the Beaker has the Beagle shape and size without the beautiful, big hound eyes. The ears resemble that of the Cocker but with the Beagle ear-set. The tail is that of a Beagle and is carried up, with the white tip waving. In many respects their body shape and size resemble that of a 15" Beagle.

Size: The Beaker is about the size of a 15" Beagle weighing about 20 pounds.

Companionship: The Beaker is a great loving dog that loves to cuddle like other hounds and will protect you. They are quite perceptive about your feelings. If your get upset it is common for them to try to comfort you by putting their head in the crook of your neck and then "hugging" you with their front paws. They will lay on the bed with you, but prefer to sleep all night in their crate. They are not considered a "velcro" dog.

Head: The Beaker's head is a little smaller than the Beagle's and without the pronounced stop of the Cocker.

Eyes: The Beaker's eyes are small like the Cocker's with a rich chocolate brown color to match their coat.

Body: The body of the Beaker is similar in size and shape to that of the 15" Beagle having the same top line, same tuck up, same well-sprung ribs and length of the legs. They have a slim, muscular build.

Feet: The Beaker has the feet of the Beagle without the thick pads.

Tail: The Beaker has the hound tail and tail-set.

Color: The color of the Beaker's coat depends on the particular parents. The most common coat colors are tri-colored with spots or a dark, rich chocolate brown with pure white points and no spots or any other colors present. The chocolate color comes from the Cocker while the white is from the Beagle.

Coat: The coat of the Beaker is short like the Beagle's but soft like the Cocker's instead of somewhat harsh like the typical hound coat. They coat has a feel of velvet to the touch, whether or not they have just been bathed.

Beaker Facts

Life Expectancy: The Beaker has a life expectancy of about 10 years.

Characteristics: It has been noted by one Beaker owner that when her Beaker is taken ot the vet, she pees on the examining table which is a Cocker trait according to her vet.

Beaker Health

Allergies: The Beaker may suffer from eye allergies.

Skin Health: The Beaker does not seem to have any skin issues, including dry skin or coat.

Ear Health: The Beaker does not get the ear infections from yeast, fungus and bacteria that other hounds are prone to.

Bone Health: The Beaker is typically a very healthy dog especially when still young. As with all mixes only time will tell.

* The most accurate way to determine characteristics of a mixed breed is by researching the parent breeds.
** Not all dogs being represented by this name consist of the exact percentages listed above.
*** It is important to do research on your dog's history before choosing a dog. We are dedicated to providing the most accurate information possible about each breed.